Column: Get eclectic with these smartphone apps

View full sizeMatch wits: Qrank offers short trivia quizzes you can play with your friends, with many questions coming straight from the day's news. What's on your phone?

OK, I admit it. I’m a bit weird.

And my taste in iPhone apps can sometimes be weird, too.

Just the other night my wife was ribbing me about not knowing some obscure fact about some television show.

“You can tell me three different TV shows some over-the-hill actor was in 25 years ago, but you can’t tell me who that actor on TV right now is?” she asked incredulously.

It’s true. My weirdness goes to knowing a lot of obscure things on a wide range of topics that only remotely help me do my job at the newspaper.

But there are apps for people like me with weird interests and weird knowledge.

QrankThis app plays to my affinity for obscure facts with daily trivia competitions played against strangers or friends, in real time, online. It’s well-designed and easy to use and lets you focus on the questions. More than mere trivia, there are power-ups, achievements and multiple location-based leaderboards. Many questions (20 new ones added daily) come straight from the day's news.Platform:iPhone, iPod touch (OS 3.0)Price: Free
CatPaintNo photo is complete without a cat in it. At least that’s what you think if you have a weird sense of humor. This app lets you take a picture with your phone (or use a pre-existing one) and add just the right cat(s) at the right size to to create your own cat-sterpiece. Once you've selected a cat from the app's animal palette and set the slider for size, each tap on the photo instantly splashes a new cat at the point of contact. You can rotate, move and erase cats and email your creations to friends and foes alike.Platform: iPhone, iPod touch (OS 3.0) Price: $1
How Many?I’ve already mentioned my affinity for weird facts. This app generates new weird facts with the flick of a finger. Basically, it tells you how much one thing weighs in terms of other things. And when I say thing(s), I mean anything(s). Ever wondered how many XBOX 360s weigh the same as a car? How many watermelons you can fit in a giraffe? The app converts strange units based on weight and volume to let you in some interesting information about such life’s mysteries.Platform:iPhone, iPod touch (OS 3.1.2)Price: $1
ESPN 2010 FIFA World Cup People in other countries understand my affinity for this, even if it might seem a little weird in the United States. On June 11, 32 countries from around the globe will start to compete for the world’s most prestigious trophy – the FIFA World Cup. ESPN understands and has an app with extensive profiles of all 32 teams, a full tournament schedule, tournament history, a Fantasy bracket predictor and more. During the tournament it will have live scores, alerts and live audio streams.Platform: iPhone, iPod touch (OS 3.0)Price: Free

When I start talking about weird apps, you know I’m reaching the dregs of my recommendations. That means I need some fresh suggestions from you. Just email me with your suggestions atkkinkade@kalamazoogazette.comor tweet him at @kris_kinkade.